ENTERPRISING youngsters in Gargrave who felt their playground needed attention have impressed the village by doing something about it themselves.

The group of five 10 and 11-year-olds, Polly Roberts, Ella Burton, Leah Pompey, Melanie Ives and Rachael Southam, wrote to the parish council saying the equipment was getting worn and the area littered.

They then set up a stall one Saturday and Sunday and raised £120 through selling cakes, books, toys and clothes.

They are donating the money to the parish council towards the purchase of a new litter bin for the playground which meets new risk assessment and health and safety requirements.

Polly's mum, Rebecca, who runs the Yew Tree knitwear shop and tea rooms in Gargrave said the girls had organised everything them-selves.

"They wrote to the council pointing out their observations and came back telling me it would cost £50,000 to renovate the area. They then set about organising a stall outside my shop and managed to take more in sales over the weekend than I did!" said Mrs Roberts.

Parish council chairman Alan Simpson said the letter from the youngsters coincided with a risk assessment the council had arranged with a company from Kettering.

"Some of the work we have already carried out such as trimming back low branches on trees and fixing the tyre swing.

"There are other things we have to look at though including a see-saw which we are currently repairing ourselves and the rubber safety surface on the two-bay swing which we have been told is not to current specifications in thickness.

"When the playground was refurbished 10 years ago it met all the safety standards but regulations change and we are looking at finding out whether they apply only to new equipment," said Mr Simpson.

Though the parish council cannot say whether renewing the equipment is on the agenda, a public meeting is to be called at the beginning of August in the Swan Hotel to set up a playgrounds sub-committee.

It is hoped the committee will be made of up parents and will look at the way forward for the site.

In the meantime, inquiries are going ahead into the purchase of a new bin. Estimates still have to be gathered although one type is believed to come with a price tag of around £400.

It is also hoped people will take part in a litter-pick at some point in the future.

The date of the public meeting will be announced next week.